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WINTER HUNTING - The rifle deer season ended Saturday, but hunters still can bring home small game, waterfowl and furbearers. They also will have a late-season chance to take deer with a flintlock or in special regulation areas.

Small game season begins Monday for squirrel and ruffed grouse. The season runs to Dec. 24, resumes on Dec. 26 and ends Feb. 23, 2013. Pheasants go back in season Monday and remain in season through Dec. 24 and again from Dec. 26 to Feb. 2, 2013 in the following Wildlife Management Units: 1A, 1B, 2B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4D, 5C and 5D.

Furbearer seasons for red and gray foxes continue until Feb. 16, 2013 including Sundays, and raccoon season also lasts until Feb. 16. A bobcat season in limited WMUs goes from Jan. 15, 2013 to Feb. 5, 2013.

Doves are in season from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2013.

Deer hunters can try again for a buck or doe in the late archery and flintlock muzzleloader seasons from Dec. 26 to Jan. 12, 2013. In WMUs 2B, 5C or 5D, hunters can use any legal sporting weapon during the extended doe season between Dec. 26 and Jan. 26, 2013.

NEW FISHING LICENSES - Anglers for the first time can buy Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses that last longer than one year. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will sell three-year and five-year licenses as well as the traditional one-year license. Buying a three-year or five-year license will save anglers $3.40, and they also will save another $3.40 if they buy a trout and salmon stamp as part of their license.

For example, a one-year license for an adult resident costs $32.40 with a trout stamp. A three-year license with the stamp costs an adult resident $90.40.

WATERFOWL - Goose season launches hunting for waterfowl enthusiasts this winter. The season for Canada geese and white-fronted geese begins Thursday and continues to Jan. 26 in the Atlantic Population Zone. For resident Canada geese, the season runs from Tuesday to Jan. 15, 2013 and resumes for all of February next year.

Duck season, including sea ducks, coots and mergansers, lasts until Jan. 5, 2013 in the North Zone, and in the South Zone through Jan. 15, 2013. The line between the zones runs through Luzerne County.

For snow geese, the season goes until Jan. 26, 2013 in the Atlantic Population Zone and until Feb. 28, 2013 in the Regular Population Goose Zone. Hunters need a free permit for snow geese.

All waterfowl hunters require a Pennsylvania hunting license and, if they are 16 or older, a federal Migratory Bird and Conservation Stamp. Hunters of all ages also need a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License for waterfowl and other migratory birds, including doves, woodcock, coots, moorhens, rails and snipe.

GAME MEETING - The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will hold a working group meeting Dec. 17 at 8 a.m. in the Game Commission's Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81. People can watch a webcast of the meeting on the commission's website, www.pgc.state.pa.us. The board's next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2013.

SNOW INDUSTRIES - Changing climate could cut into the $12.2 billion winter recreation industry that provides jobs to more than 211,000 Americans in 38 states, a report by the National Resources Defense Council said.

The report found that temperatures have increased 0.16 of a degree per decade since 1895, but the increase more than tripled to 0.55 during the decades starting with the 1970s. If unchecked through the end of the century, temperatures could increase 4 to 10 degrees and snow in the West might decline by 25 percent to 100 percent. The changes would affect workers in ski tourism, snowmobiling and ice fishing businesses plus motels, restaurants and other service industries.

LEARN ABOUT BEARS - Children 2 to 4 can learn about bears by looking at taxidermy mounts at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. The children also will play games and sing songs. Telephone 570-645-8597 to register.

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